Chain saw



J. B. COX

Dec. 23, 1952 CHAIN SAW Filed July 1, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN me/0fP// 5. C076 J. B. COX

CHAIN SAW Dec. 23, 1952 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed July 1, 1946 Filed July 11946 J. B. COX

CHAIN SAW 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 mum/m Jomw d (0% 41 TOE/VEYJ Patented Dec.23, 1952 UNITED STATES iA'iENT OFFICE CHAIN SAW Application July 1,1946, Serial No. 680,549

lil Claims. 1

This invention relates to saws and it has reference more particularly toimprovements in chain saws designed for cutting wood, such for example,saws that are power driven for the felling of trees and for thosevarious other sawing operations that are common to the logging industry.Furthermore, the invention has to do with saws wherein the chain beltwhich embodies the cutting elements in the links thereof, is mounted forone-way travel on a saw blade or bar that is grooved along its edges forthe guided travel of the links of the saw chain thereon.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide certainimprovements in chain saws of the kind above stated that will eliminatemany of the difiiculties and disadvantages that are now encountered inthe use of, or which reside in many present-day types of chain saws andwhich are caused primarily by the cutter design and by reason of thefact that those cutters which form the sides of the kerf and the rakersor cutters which cut the kerf material free are separate from each otherin the chain belt.

More specifically, it is a primary object of the present invention toprovide a saw chain in which all of the kerf cutting ction is performedby cutting elements identical to each other except that successiveelements are of alternating right and left configuration, the respectivecutting elements being provided on individual chain links for greaterease of manufacture and maintenance, and improved performance.

It is also an object of this invention to provide improvements in chainsaw cutter links whereby easier, smoother and faster wood cutting may beaccomplished without detrimental effect on the saw or to the materialbeing cut and without requiring any increase in power for the operationor driving of the saw.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a chain saw whereinthe cutting portions of the cutter links are so arranged as to providefriction free side clearance for the chain in its travel in the kerf,thereby reducing wear on the chain, bringing about easier operation andeasier guiding of the saw and eliminating binding and jumping of thechain.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the cutter linkswith depth gauging means to' insure smooth cutting and the eliminationof vibration or irregular action of the chain belt.

Another prime object of this invention is to provide a chain sawembodying the various features above stated and whereinthe bettercutting action and various advantages attained thereby are due tothe'improvements made in the cutting portions of the chain links andwherein said improvements reside mainly in the provision of cutters thatcombine therein both the functions of side cutters and rakers. A furtherobject is to provide a saw chain wherein alternate cutting links areright hand and left hand and each operates to cut one side of the kerfand to cut the kerf material from between the side cuts, leaving asmoothly cut channel in which the chain operates freely and withoutbinding.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a saw chain whereinsuccessive links therein have a supporting relationship that results inan operating reaction between adjacent links of the chain thateliminates undesirable chain jumping that is common in many types ofchain saws; and which is due to binding, gouging that increases withdullness of the cutters or looseness of the chain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chain link embodying acutting element that functions both as a side cutter and as a bottomrouter and whereby the arrangement is such that the operation of filingand sharpening is simplified;

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are to be found"in the details of construction and combination of parts of the saw andin the cutter links'as' hereinafter described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In accomplishing" these and other objects of theinvention, I- haveprovided the improved details of construction; the preferred forms ofwhich are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is aside View of a section of a chain saw embodied by the present invention,together with a sectional portion-of a saw blade on which the chain ismounted for travel.

Fig. 2 is a top or edge view of the parts as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section, taken on the line 3-3 in Fig'. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a short section of chain showing a rightand a left cutter link and a spacer link in their connectedrelationship.

Fig. 5 is a section of a saw chain of an alternative or modified form ofconstruction, embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 6- is a top view of the parts shown in Figi 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 1-1 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a section of saw chain as shown in Fig.5.

Fig. 9 is a side View of a cutter link of a modified 1form for use inchains as illustrated in Fig.

Fig. 10 is a cutter link of alternative form for use in chains of thekind shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a side view of a chain saw of a type for which the presentimprovements are adapted for use.

Fig. 12 is a view showing the present type of cutting teeth applied to across-cut saw.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- In Fig. 11, for purpose ofbetter understanding of the present improvements as applied to chainsaws, I have shown one type of saw for which the improved chain isespecially adapted. In this view, l designates the saw bar or blade andH designates a frame to which one end of the bar is suitably fixed forthe intended use of the saw. Supported by the frame is an engine ofsuitable kind, designated in general by numeral l3, and this operatesthrough suitable power transmission devices, not shown, to rotatablydrive a sprocket wheel 15 located adjacent the inner end of the bar overwhich the saw chain operates. At the outer end of the bar there ismounted a similar sprocket wheel IE, or other suitable chain guidingmeans about which the outer end of the chain may travel. The cutterchain is continuous and is designated generally in Fig. 11 by referencecharacter C. wherein it is shown as extending about the sprocket wheelsl and I6 and along opposite edges of the blade or bar I 0, which, asshown in Figs. 3 and '7, is formed along its longitudinal edges withdeep grooves l8 in which parts of certain of the chain links ride tofunctionally guide the chain in its use.

Referring now more particularly to that present preferred design of sawchain which has been illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, this chaincomprises the alternately arranged cutter links 20 and spacer links 2|;the spacer links 2| being pivotally joined at their ends with the cutterlinks by the paired opposite side links 22-22'. Rivets 23 extend throughthe opposite end portions of the paired links and through the cutter andspacer links to efiect the necessary and desired pivotal connection ofthe links embodied in the chain. The chain, as seen in Fig. 1.comprises, in succession, a right hand cutter link, a spacer link, and aleft hand cutter link; these links of course being joined in successionby the paired side links 22 and 22 and rivets 23.

The cutter links, herein designated generally by numeral 2|], and whichare made as right hand and left hand cutters, are exactly alike inconstruction and in detail except that they are faced toward oppositesides of the chain, so that those faced in one direction will cut oneside of the kerf and those faced in the other direction will cut theother side. All cutter links, however, operate also as routers to removethe kerf to the depth and to the width defined by the coaction of thecutters. Therefore, the following description of a cutter link 20 willbe understood to apply equally to the right hand and left hand units,and in the description, the terms upper, lower and ends will havereference to the links as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 which show 4 thesection of chain operating along the top of the blade or bar.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 4, each of the cutterlinks 20, as therein shown, comprises a flat metal blank 25,substantially of rectangular outline and formed medially of its baseedge portion, with a rigid, downwardly extending guide wing 26. Thiswing lies in the same plane as the main body portion of the blank and isdesigned for guided travel in the edge grooves it of the saw blade orbar If], as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The forward edge 21 of this wingportion is perpendicular to the base edge 28 of the body of the link,its lower edge 29 is square cut and its back edge 30 slopes upwardlytherefrom and merges into the trailing edge 3! of the body portion ofthe blank in a rounded corner, as at 32. Likewise, the base edge 28 ofthe blank merges into the forward edge 33 in a rounded corner, as shownat 34. The rounding of these corner portions is for the purpose offacilitating easier travel.

At the top edge of each body blank 25 and adjacent the forward endthereof, is a depth gauge portion 36, formed with an upwardly andrearwardly rounded top edge surface 38 for engaging in riding contactwith the base or bottom surface of the kerf for the purpose ofregulating the depth of cut, as will presently be understood. Justrearward of this depth gauge portion 36, the blank is recessed, as at40, to provide clearance for material being cut out from the base of thekerf. The recess is relatively deep, as understood by reference to Fig.1, and the depth gauge portion lies in the same plane as the main bodyportion of the blank. That upper portion of each blank that is rearwardof the recess fit is offset laterally from the plane of the blank toabout the thickness of the blank; the offset being mainly in thatportion of the link designated at 39 in Figs. 3, and 4, and from thisrather abrupt offset portion, the side wall portion extends upwardly andoutwardly at approximately a 10 degree incline. The outermost edge ofthe side wall portion of the cutter link extends laterally beyond thelateral extremities of the remaining parts of the chain and the saw barIt so that the kerf cut thereby will have a width sufilcient to provideadequate clearance for the remainder of the chain and saw bar.

The right hand and left hand links are distinguished one from the otherby one having the upper body portion offset to the left of the plane ofthe blank and the other having it offset to the right of the plane ofthe blank.

Formed along the top edge of each side wall, or cutter tooth shank,portion and extending longitudinally of the chain from the rearward edgeof the blank to the recess 40, is a cutter flange, or toe portion 45.This comprises a laterally bent or formed longitudinal edge portion ofthe body blank, substantially rectangular in plan as seen in Fig. 2, andit extends along the link in a plane that is perpendicular to the planeof the main portion of the blank. The forward edge of the flanged toeportion is transverse to the line of travel of the chain and is beveledand sharpened to present a planing or cutting edge, as shown at 48. Inthe longitudinal direction of the link, the top or base surface of theflange or toe portion 45 slopes slightly downward from the sharpenededge 48, that is, it slopes away from the base of the kerf that would beformed as the cutter advances. Also, as shown in Fig. 3, that verticaland forwardly facing edge portion acz'acec of; the laterally inclined.shank. portion of. the blank that is: evem with the cutting edge 48, isbeveled inwardly: and isssharpenedasat 50; and this. sharpened edge isdesigned.- to form the out that-definestherside of the kerf.Thesharpened angle that is formediby'the merging of the chisel cuttingedges itandtfl of the toe and shank portions-,- respectively, forms thelower corner out of the kerf as the link advances. Furthermore, it isshown inrFig. 1- that the planingv edge 58' is. slightly above the. lineof the rounded surface of. the. gauge portion andtherefore as thelinkadvances in making acut, this'edge it operates to plane or cut loose thekerf that is. defined between-the. side cuts formed: by the advance.-ment .of theright hand-and lefthand: cutter links.

Another. feature of thisparticular link. con struction resides-inthefactthat-the transverse cutting. edge 43. is slightly angularly inclinedrelativeto the line oftraveland also-theoutside faceof theoifset sidewall, or cutter tooth shank, portion of .the link is slightly inclinedrelative to the line of travel so asto provide clearance along thetrailing portion of. the link back of the cutting. edge 56. Thisclearance, together with. the provision of clearance between the topsurface of the cutter. names 45 and base of the kerf, will insure the.easy travel of the chain without-binding. Furthermore, the width of thekerf as defined between the. corner. lines cut by right, hand and lefthand cutters, isslightly more than. the length of the. cutting. edges:.8 and therefore there will be no. binding of the'cu-tter flange 45.asit advances in the out. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it willbeobserved that the cutter flange portions extend laterally iii-- wardlyabove the main body portion 25 by an amount at least. one-half the Widthof. the kerf. bottom and preferably slightly beyond. the median plane ofthe saw chain as indicated.

For. better understanding, I have. indicated in Fig; 1 the bottomsurface of the kerf at K. and in Fig. 2' I have indicated the side outof the kerf at S and in Fig. l the. clearance between the cutter flangeand bottomnf the kerf is shown at a: and in Fig. 2the clearance betweenthe offset portion and side wall is shownat The cutter links 26alternate with the spacerlinks 25 and are. joined thereto by the pairedside links 22-Z2' and these latter links are or". such height that theymay lie flatly, against the. lower body portions of the cutter link.blanks below the offset portions lid. The laterally offset cutterforming. portions of the. links 2.9; and

the depth gauge portions 31$ thereof. are. above 1-, the line of the topedges of the side links. Allv the pivotal connections between links arealigned in an alinement parallel with the cutting edge, as shown in Fig.1, and the lower. edge. portions of the paired links are designed toride on the edge of the bar. or blade Iii at opposite-sides oi thegroove I8 in order tov support the chain in.

an upright positionwith.substantial rigidity and.

to support the guide wing portionsof the links from riding at theirlower ends in contact with thebase' of the bar groove.

While I have shown the saw chain in Fig. 1.

as embodying the spacerlinks 2!. between. the

right and left cutter links, these spacer. links might be eliminated ifso desired andthe right. and left cutter links connected end to. end bythe.

paired links 22. This is a matter of use or desires.

A feature of construction to aid in. lubricating the chain, and whichmaybe used or omitted.

routing tooth.

6 if? not. desired. resides in the forming of the body oftlre: spacerlinks; 2| Withs holes 21in: in which. feltipads; p arefitted to. carrythe lubricant.-

In analternative' form of chain, shown in Figs. 5,. 6: and 7, cutter.links Eta are placed end to end, alternately being provided with righthand. and left hand cutters. These are joined pivotally by paired sidelinks 22 in the same manner asthe main-links of the'chain of Fig. 1arejoined. Each cutter link 25a comprises a body blank deformed mediallyof itslower edge, with a depending guide wing portion Bl, designed totravel in the groove E8 of the saw blade or bar H3. At the rearward endof the.- blank is an. upwardlydirected cutter tooth shank pcrtion fie,laterally inclined from the-body portion, asshownin Fig; 7, and thisinclined shank portion is formed at its top edge with a laterallyextending. blade or cutter toe portion 54, correspending to the part 555of the link 29 of Fig. 3.

The" forward edge of this cutter toe portion is sharpened as at 48A andalso the forward. edge of the ofiseti portion is sharpened as at 59A, todefine a combined sidewall cutting and bottom The junction of thesecutting edges likewise serves tocut the corner of the base of the kerfandthe sharpened edge 68A removes the kerf to'the extent of the depth ofthe out between right and left cutter. It is also shown in Fig. 5 thatatthe rear end portion of the cutter flange 64- there is an upwardlydirected too 55 that serves as a guide portion for the link. This. ridesagainst the bottom of the kerf.

In this'design of link, the forward end of each linkis rounded about thecenter of the pivotal connectionZS. with. the side links and the rear-'ward end or each link has a similarly rounded seat lll, designed toreceive therein. the rounded forward end portion of .the next followinglink. This. permits the necessary pivotal action for the chain passingaround the sprocket wheels and prevents the undesirable gouging andjumping of. the chain in operation, due to the fact that eachlink servesas a supporting element for the rearward portion of the next forwardlink.

As a modification of the cutter link shown in the saw chain of Fig. 4,links as in Fig. 10 might be used. Each of. these links 26b is formedwith a depth gauge. portion '15 at its rear end extended to the. levelof the gauge portion 36, and the cutter flange. 45 shortenedaccordingly.

Also, links as used in the chain of Fig. 5 might be modified as shown inFig. 9 wherein the link blank isequipped with a depth gauge portion i9forwardly of the. cutter portion.

The modifications disclosed in Figs. 9 and 10 are further disclosed and.claimed in my copendingapplication Serial No. 250,282, filed October 3,l951,,as a-divisionoi the instant application.

While I have. described the improvements as applied. to. chain saws, itis anticipated also that ordinary cross out saws might be equipped withteeth of the kind disclosed. Therefore, I have on Fig. 12 shown afragmental portion of a cross cut saw blade 53 equipped with right andleft cutters at filr and filh. These are like the ou tors previouslydescribed in so far as angle inclination and cutting edges areconcerned. The spacing issuch as to be practical and the depth gaugingelements used in the chain saw are eliminated.

Assuming saws tobe so constructed, it is apparent that the cuttingedgesof the right handand. lefthand cutter linkswill coact toform a 7 kerf ofa width determined by the lateral offsetting of the cutter portions.Also, that the material of the kerf will be planed out from between theside cuts by the transverse edges of the parts 45. The inclining of thecutter surfaces back of the cutting edges relieves the chain of allbinding tendencies and makes guiding of the saw easy. Sharpening ofcutters may be easily accomplished and both side and cross cutting edgesmay be sharpened in one operation.

Havin thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent isf 1. In a saw chain comprising aplurality of alternating right and left cutter links, spacer linkspivotally connecting adjacent cutter links, each and every one of thecutter links of the saw chain including a fiat body having a singlecutter tooth consisting of a side wall portion and an outer flangeportion, said portions being integral with said body and having a lengthin the longitudinal direction of said cutter link greater than half thelength of said link, said side wall portion being laterally offsetthroughout its length with respect to the plane of said body by anamount greater than the lateral extremity of the remaining parts of thechain, the amount of offset progressively decreasing from the forwardedge to the rear edge thereof whereby said side wall portion is inclinedthroughout its height with respect to the plane of said body in thelongitudinal direction thereof, said flange portion extendingsubstantially at right angles to the plane of said body, the foremostedges of said side wall and flange portions being sharpened, all of thecutter links of the saw chain being identical to each other other thanbeing of right and left configuration, said flange portions of alternatecutter teeth extending in opposite directions across the median plane ofsaid chain.

2, In a saw chain comprising a plurality of alternating right and leftcutter links, spacer links pivotally connecting adjacent cutter links,all of the cutter links of the saw chain including a flat body having anintegral depth gauge tooth extending outwardly from the forward endthereof and coplanar with said body, and a single integral cutter toothspaced from said depth gauge tooth by a relatively deep sawdust recess,said cutter tooth consisting of a side wall portion and an outer flangeportion, said portions being integral with said body and extending fromsaid recess to the opposite end of said cutter link, said side wallportion being laterally offset throughout its length with respect to theplane of said body by an amount greater than the lateral extremity ofthe remaining parts of the chain, the amount of offset progressivelydecreasing from the forward edge to the rear edge thereof whereby saidside wall portion is inclined throughout its height with respect to theplane of said body in the longitudinal direction thereof, said flangeportion extending substantially at right angles to the plane of saidbody, the foremost edges of said side wall and flange portions beingsharpened, all of the cutter links of the saw chain being identical toeach other except of right and left configuration, said flange portionsof alternate cutter teeth extending in opposite directions across themedian plane of said chain.

3. A saw chain comprising a plurality of pivotally connected links, asuccession of cutting elements, all of the cutting elements of said sawchain being identical to each other except that the successive elementsare of alternating right and left configuration respectively, each ofthe cutting elements of said saw chain being provided on an individuallink, each of said cutting elements including a kerf side wall cuttingedge portion and a kerf bottom cutting edge portion extendingcontinuously and laterally inwardly from said side wall cutting edgeportion for at least one-half the width of the kerf.

4. A saw chain comprising a plurality of pivotally connected links, asuccession of cutting elements, all of the cutting lements of said sawchain being identical to each other except that the successive elementsare of alternating right and left configuration respectively, each ofthe cutting elements of said saw chain being provided on an individuallink, each of said cutting elements including a kerf side wall cuttingportion and a kerf bottom cutting edge portion extending continuouslyand laterally inwardly from said side wall cutting edge portion beyondthe median plane of said chain.

5. A saw chain comprising a plurality of pivotally connected links, asuccession of sharp edged cutting elements, each and every one of thecutting elements being provided on an individual one of said links, eachand every one of the sharp edged cutting elements of the saw chain beingidentical to every other one except that successive cutting elements areof alternating right and left configuration respectively, each of saidcutting elements including a kerf side wall cutting edge portion and akerf bottom cutting edge portion extending continuously and laterallyinwardly from said side wall cutting edge portion for at least one-halfthe width of the kerf, and a blunt tipped depth gauge element betweeneach adjacent pair of cutting elements.

6. A saw chain comprising a plurality of pivotally connected links, asuccession of sharp edged cutting elements, each and every one of thecutting elements being provided on an individual one of said links, eachand every one of the sharp edged cutting elements of the saw chain beingidentical to every other one except that successive cutting elements areof alternating right and left configuration respectively. each of saidcutting elements including a kerf side wall cutting edge portion and akerf bottom cutting edge portion extending continuously and laterallyinwardly from said side wall cutting edge portion for at least one-halfthe width of the kerf. and a blunt tip ed depth gauge portion on eachand every one of said individual cutting element links.

'7. A saw chain comprising a plurality of pivotally connected links, asuccession of sharp edged cutting elements, each and every one of thecutting elements being provided on an individual one of said links, eachand every one of the sharp edged cutting elements of the saw chain beingidentical to every other one except that successive cutting elements areof alterhatin right and left configuration respectively. each and everyone of the cutting elements of the saw chain including a flat link plateportron and a shank portion extending laterally outwardly from saidplate portion and a toe portion extending laterally inwardly from theend of sand shank portion, a kerf side wall chisel cutting edge providedon the shank portion and a kerf bottom chisel cutting edge providedonsaid to portion.

8. A saw chain comprising a plurality of pivotally connected links, asuccession of sharp edged cutting elements, each and every one of thecutting elements being provided on an individual one of said links, eachand every one of the sharp edged cutting elements of the saw chain beingidentical to every other one except that successive cutting elements areof alternating right and left configuration respectively, each and everyone of the cutting elements of the saw chain including a flat link plateportion and a shank portion extending laterally outwardly from saidplate portion and a toe portion extending laterally inwardly from theend of said shank portion, a kerf side wall chisel cutting edge providedon the shank portion and a kerf bottom chisel cutting edge provided onsaid toe portion, and a blunt tipped depth gauge portion provided oneach of said last mentioned link plates spaced ahead of said shank andtoe portions.

9. In a saw chain comprising a, plurality of alternating right and leftcutter links, a spacer links pivotally connecting adjacent cutter links,each and every one of the cutter links of the saw chain including a flatbody having a single cutter tooth consisting of a side wall portion andan outer flange portion, said portions being integral with said body andelongated in the longitudinal direction of the chain, said side wallportion extending laterally outwardly throughout its length with respectto the plane of said body by such an amount that the outer juncture ofsaid side wall and flange portions extends laterally beyond the lateralextremity of the remainder of the saw chain, the lateral extent of saidside wall portion decreasing progressively from the forward edge to therear edge thereof, the foremost edges of said side wall and flangeportions being sharpened whereby each tooth is thus adapted for cuttingboth a kerf side wall portion and a kerf bottom portion, all of thecutter links of the saw chain being identical to each other other thanbeing of right and left configuration, said flange portions of alternatecutter teeth extending in opposite directions across the median plane ofsaid chain.

10. In a saw chain comprising a plurality of alternating right and leftcutter links, spacer links pivotally connecting adjacent cutter links,each and every one of the cutter links of the saw chain including a fiatbody having an integral depth gauge extending outwardly from the forwardend thereof, and a single integral cutter tooth spaced from said depthgauge, said cutter tooth consistin of a side wall portion and an outerflange portion, said portions being elongated in the direction of thechain, said side wall portion extending laterally outwardly throughoutits length in the direction of the chain parallel to said body beyondthe lateral extremity of the remainder of the saw chain, the lateralextent of said side wall portion decreasing progressively from theforward edge to the rear end thereof, all of the cutter links of the sawchain being identical to each other other than being of right and leftconfiguration, said flange portions of alternate cutter teeth extendingin opposite directions across the median plane of said chain, theforemost edges of both the said side Wall and flange portions beingsharpened whereby each cutter tooth is thus adapted for cutting both akerf side wall portion and a kerf bottom portion of at least one-halfthe width of the kerf bottom.

JOSEPH B. COX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 749,603 Barnes Jan. 12, 1904827,009 Gray et a1. July 24, 1906 1,150,218 Martin Aug. 17, 19151,397,026 Wolf Nov. 15, 1921 2,048,702 Joy July 28, 1936 2,321,962Zandecki June 15, 1943 2,326,854 Hassler Aug. 17, 1943 2,351,112 DayJuly 13, 1944 2,356,437 Smith Aug. 22, 1944

